Page 25 of Beau
Beau tipped my chin up, met my eyes with his dark ones and gave me a kiss. “More of that. Later.”
Then he was gone, following Trig and Colt out the door.
13
BEAU
I’d beenable to sway Lainey to stay behind at the hospital, to drive her mother home while I went with Trig and Colt to the Two Rivers Ranch. I’d heard a shit ton about Conrad Trout and how he’d been screwing with the Wilder family recently.
While I didn’t like the idea of Mr. Wilder getting hurt or a horse getting doped, my girl could’ve been hurt last night.
Trig wanted a piece of Trout for what he’d done to Ellie.
Colt wanted a piece of him for all of it.
Fortunately, there would be pieces left just for me.
Except it seemed his only connection to what happened the night before was that this Rod loser was that he worked on his property. Based on what Colt mentioned, the guy still might be snorkeling in Aruba. All he might be responsible for was hiring an asshole.
I rode with Trig in his pickup across town, following Colt’s patrol SUV at enough distance from the kicked up dust from the dirt roads. After passing an impressive log and metal arch entrance to the Two Rivers Ranch, he didn’t stop at the main house, which was impressively large and ridiculously ostentatious for Montana.
“Jesus, white columns? It looks like a plantation from the Deep South,” I muttered as we cruised by.
“Yeah, but you have to admit this is a sweet piece of land,” Trig countered.
The land was impressive. A river bisected the property, making for lush pastures and constant water for grazing cattle and horses. The stable, which we parked in front of, had a huge indoor riding ring beside it. Both were painted a bright white with green trim, immaculately upkept.
“Why the fuck would Trout want Ellie’s father’s ranch–and Katie’s–if he has all this?” I said, looking out the passenger window. “There’s gotta be fifteen miles between here and the Mann place and a little farther to Katie’s. They don’t even connect.”
“Little bratty kids always want the toy someone else is playing with, even if the one they have in their hand is better.”
“Are we keeping track of who we’re arresting?” I asked.
“I want Trout, but he’s done nothing illegal,” Trig said, his fingers tightening around the steering wheel. “At least in this latest fuckery.”
“Bray wants a piece of him, too,” I reminded. “After what he’s been doing to Katie.”
“Bray’s got Hayes dealing with him,” he grumbled.
Meaning Hayes was going to meet the man in court and could sue his ass.
“Well, this punk, Rod, he’s not making it to the station without a few bumps and bruises,” I vowed.
He huffed and grinned. “More than a few.”
We parked beside Colt by the stable and met him in front of his SUV.
“On the way over, got details pulled on Rod Severs. Twenty-two. White blond hair, blue eyes. Six-two. Legal address is in Anaconda but attends the university in Missoula. Got pulled in with Chase Trout last winter in Missoula for drunk and disorderly, but it didn’t stick to either of them.”
“Can I help you?”
A man, who hadn’t seen twenty-two for a few decades, came out of the stable to join us. His jeans and shirt with the ranch name embroidered on the chest were dusty. His face was sweaty even with the hat on his head shielding it from the sun. This guy looked like he actually worked.
“Looking for Rod Severs.”
The guy frowned. “He hasn’t been to the stables this morning. Probably with Chase. I’d check the pool behind the big house, or the shallow section of the river that way.” He turned and pointed to the south. “Either spot they’re probably drunk.”
“Your name, sir?” Colt asked.
